Mosquito bites can produce allergic reactions.
The saliva from mosquito bites can produce allergic reactions ranging from itchy red bumps to severe inflammation. According to the University of Florida IFAS Extension, one of the best ways to avoid mosquito bites is to apply insect repellents. Does this Spark an idea?
Chemical Repellents
The Centers for Disease Control recommends repellents with the active ingredients DEET, picaridin and oil of lemon-eucalyptus. Products with oil of lemon-eucalyptus, however, are not approved for children under 3 and have not been scientifically tested against mosquitoes that spread malaria.
Chemical Repellents and Sunscreen
The CDC does not recommend using a single product that contains both sunscreen and DEET, though it does recommend using both insect repellents and sunscreen as separate products. Sunscreens normally must be applied frequently, and applying DEET at the same rate could result in overexposure to the chemical.
Natural Mosquito Repellents
Mother Earth News recommends as a mosquito repellent a mixture of 1 cup of 190-proof grain alcohol with 2 1/2 tsp. of any one of the following essential oils: citronella, cedarwood, juniper, basil, myrrh, lemon, pine, palmarosa, rose geranium and/or rosemary. The University of Florida IFAS Extension tested several natural products and found that those with a 10 percent concentration of citronella and those with other essential oil herbal combinations, including cedar and geranium, repelled mosquitoes for 20 minutes.
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